Math · 7:43am May 11th, 2016
You know, I've been wondering: can you write a legitimately exciting story about mathematics? It seems like the answer would be "yes, ye can, ye scurvy dog." But it seems very hard; I think there are a few questions that would need to be answered first:
1. What is the driving plot device?
2. How do you make math exciting and attention holding?
3. How does the author write for non-PhD's? How is the particular field in math explained without feeling condescending or too jargon-y?
Things like science fiction hold up because of suspension of disbelief; but "math fiction" just doesn't really make sense—it's rigorous, and unless you create a new set of axioms or something, it wouldn't work.
I think a story written about math would have to simply include math, and not focus on it, unless you had some specific target audience like statisticians or something. What I mean by include is that it would have to simply have mathematics as some kind of motivation for the main character—that way, the story can still be completely based upon character interactions (as most stories are) and not be bogged down by text-book-iness.
So, to say it a different way, the story would have to follow someone as they strive to be the best mathematician (or just a good one), and would essentially just be story about someone playing sports replaced with math. That way, you could have scenes of intense mathing while still maintaining some kind of a compelling story.
But hey, that's just my thoughts. Thanks for reading.
3937061 Thank you for recommending that series! It's very interesting.